Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – 1 Corinthians 10:12-33
Set – Psalms 47; 1 Corinthians 10
Go! – Joshua 21-22; Psalms 47; 1 Corinthians 10
1 Corinthians 10:12-33
12 So let even the most confident believers remember their examples and be very careful not to fall as some of them did.13 Any temptation you face will be nothing new. But God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. But He always provides a way of escape so that you will be able to endure and keep moving forward. 14 So then, my beloved friends, run from idolatry in any form. 15 As wise as I know you are, understand clearly what I am saying and determine the right course of action. 16 When we give thanks and share the cup of blessing, are we not sharing in the blood of the Anointed One? When we give thanks and break bread, are we not sharing in His body? 17 Because there is one bread, we, though many, are also one body since we all share one bread. 18 Look no further than Israel and the temple practices, and you’ll see what I mean. Isn’t it true that those who eat sacrificial foods are communing at the altar, sharing its benefits? 19 So what does all this mean? I’m not suggesting that idol food itself has any special qualities or that an idol itself possesses any special powers, 20 but I am saying that the outsiders’ sacrifices are actually offered to demons, not to God. So if you feast upon this food, you are feasting with demons—I don’t want you involved with demons! 21 You can’t hold the holy cup of the Lord in one hand and the cup of demons in the other. You can’t share in the Lord’s table while picking off the altar of demons. 22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord Jesus? Do we think it’s a good idea to stir up His jealousy? Do we have ridiculous delusions about matching or even surpassing His power?
23 There’s a slogan often quoted on matters like this: “All things are permitted.” Yes, but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted,” they say. Yes, but not all things build up and strengthen others in the body. 24 We should stop looking out for our own interests and instead focus on the people living and breathing around us. 25 Feel free to eat any meat sold in the market without your conscience raising questions about scruples 26 because “the earth and all that’s upon it belong to the Lord.”
27 So if some unbelievers invite you to dinner and you want to go, feel free to eat whatever they offer you without raising questions about conscience. 28-29 But if someone says, “This is meat from the temple altar, a sacrifice to god so-and-so,” then do not eat it. Not so much because of your own conscience [because the earth and everything on it belongs to the Lord], but out of consideration for the conscience of the other fellow who told you about it. So you ask, “Why should I give up my freedom to accommodate the scruples of another?” 30 or, “If I am eating with gratitude to God, why am I insulted for eating food that I have properly given thanks for?” These are good questions.
31 Whatever you do—whether you eat or drink or not—do it all to the glory of God! 32 Do not offend Jews or Greeks or any part of the church of God for that matter. 33 Consider my example: I strive to please all people in all my actions and words—but don’t think I am in this for myself—their rescued souls are the only profit.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
I want you to focus on two things you heard from Paul’s letter today; first, about temptation and second, about your actions and words.
So many today think they cannot live the life I’ve asked you to live. They forget I’ve sent My Spirit to live inside you to give you assistance. I can help you and guide you. I can give you the strength you need to withstand temptation, but most often I give you a way of escape. What most people do, though, is fail to look for the way of escape. Instead, they try to withstand the blast from Satan in their own strength and fail.
I always give you an escape, but too many fail to look for the exit sign. The best way to keep from yielding to the temptations of life is to find the exits and run as fast as you can. Remember, I always make a way of escape for you. Take it!
The second thing so many forget today is to do everything for My glory. When your aim focuses on My outcomes instead of your own, giving glory to Me instead gaining glory for yourself you will prosper more than you can imagine. You may not gain prosperity as the world measures it, but you might. I might entrust you with the riches of the world as I did Abraham, Joseph, Solomon, and others. But I will certainly give you other riches like the internal peace that only comes by knowing your spirit is secure in Me.
In his letter, Paul talks about eating and drinking, not offending others by your actions. But if you’ll operate with the thought in mind to give Me glory by your actions, you’ll never have a problem with trying to figure out what you should do. Just ask Me the question. “What would Jesus do in the this situation?” You’ll get your answer and you’ll give Me glory in your actions and in your words.
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